How Many Meals Should You Eat per Day?

2. The science behind metabolic rate and eating frequency

Processing food for use and storage takes a small amount of energy. This is the thermic effect of food, and it is one of the core components of metabolism alongside exercise and resting metabolic rate. Historically, experts have estimated that the thermic effect accounts for around 10% of a person's caloric intake. The actual amount depends on the foods a person consumes. Studies show that eating foods like protein and carbohydrates results in a greater increase than eating fats because fats are far easier to digest.